First Presbyterian Church is terminating an agreement with the city of Clarksville that had allowed the city to manage, monitor and maintain the church's parking lot at Main and Third Streets downtown.

"We think it is in our best interest to work more closely with the county, trying to take advantage of the development of the Civic Plaza," Pastor Greg Glover told The Leaf-Chronicle.

According to the agreement, half of the 71 spaces were used by the church on weekdays and the rest were leased out to the public on a monthly basis by the city, with the city keeping the revenue. On Sundays, the church used all 71 spots.

​In its 30-day notice to the city, First Presbyterian Church's lawyer Larry Watson did not mention the reason for the agreement termination.

The letter references the agreement and states, "Please find enclosed a quit claim deed and a check for $10. This shall serve as our written 30-day notice."

"We are simply trying to extend full cooperation to the Montgomery County government in the construction of the Civic Plaza," said Charles Foust, a member of the church's "session," or governing body.

But ending the contract may cost the church much more than the $10 contract fee.

Both parties agreed in 2009 that if the church decided to terminate the contract within 10 years, the church would have to pay an amount "equal to the balance remaining on the amortized improvements," according to documents provided to The Leaf-Chronicle.

If the city terminated the contract within 10 years, "it shall forfeit any balance remaining on the amortized improvements."

In its response to the church, the city wrote, "Should the church desire to conclude this matter and exercise the repurchase option, the city will need to receive funds in an amount equal to the amortized balance of $3,000.41 for city improvements, plus the $10 consideration, for a total amount of $3,010.41."

The city has spent a total of $22,000 in improvements to the parking lot. The expenses included repairing damaged brickwork at entrance planters, providing new concrete curbing and removing asphalt, installing landscaping, correcting drainage problems, installing fencing, and repairing cracked paving.

"That's only fair. I am just trying to protect interests of the city taxpayers," City Mayor Kim McMillan said.

McMillan has not been supportive of the county government-led Civic Plaza project.

In a September interview, McMillan said of the project, "You don't build a non-revenue-producing asset on nontaxable, exempt property, which is what this is. I don't know if that is the way you start to revitalize downtown."

City Parking Manager David Smith declined to comment on how much the city would lose in parking revenue.

Glover said the church will be seeking a similar agreement with the county. Montgomery County Chief of Staff Jeff Truitt said the county welcomes the move.

“We are looking forward to partnering with First Presbyterian as we continue to look at ways to invigorate our downtown and provide much needed parking opportunities," Truitt said. "These public/private partnerships have proven to work, and it is something we will continue to pursue in other areas.”